Kazakhstan's Ministry of Transport said on October 31 that Deputy Minister Talgat Lastayev chaired a meeting attended by representatives of local governments (akimats) and airports to discuss the three-year airport infrastructure development plan to 2029. The plan covers runways at seven airports and passenger terminals at another seven; the meeting called for design and cost documentation to be completed as soon as possible, funding sources to be determined and deadlines to be met. The details below are based on the ministry's report, as republished by Forbes Kazakhstan, Trend and other media.
What will change for runways under the three-year plan?
According to the ministry, runways at seven airports are to be built or rebuilt, including:
- Three new runways: Astana, Shymkent, Aktobe.
- Four existing runways to be rebuilt: Almaty, Zhezkazgan, Taraz, Uralsk.
Which airports will get new or upgraded terminals?
According to the same report, passenger terminals will be built or rebuilt at seven airports: Aktobe, Atyrau, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Zhezkazgan, Semey, Pavlodar and Urzhar. The ministry says the meeting was held in line with the infrastructure construction tasks set by the head of state in the October 28 Address.
What did the meeting ask for on timing?
The focus was on three things: preparing design and cost documentation on time, determining funding sources and keeping to project deadlines. After the meeting, the relevant state bodies, local executive bodies and organizations were told to step up work so the projects are delivered on schedule. The report does not disclose investment amounts for individual airports or specific completion dates.
What had officials said earlier?
- At the October 29 government meeting, according to Kazinform, Lastayev said the main aviation hubs have been identified and a free economic zone regime is being introduced, refueling complexes and cargo terminals are being upgraded, and modernization of air navigation support systems has begun.
- According to a September 5 report on the Prime Minister's website, the modernization of Arkalyk airport was completed this year; new airports in the Zaisan and Katon-Karagay districts and at the Kenderli resort are planned for completion by year-end; routes expected to open by year-end include Almaty–Chongqing and Astana–Yining.
Rules related to this news
Frequently asked questions
### Which airports will get new runways?
According to the ministry, new runways will be built in Astana, Shymkent and Aktobe; existing runways in Almaty, Zhezkazgan, Taraz and Uralsk will be rebuilt.
### What is the time frame of the plan?
The report describes a three-year plan to 2029; it does not give a completion date for each airport.
### Did the report disclose total investment?
No. It mentions only determining funding sources and preparing design and cost documentation, and lists no amounts.
### What does this mean for China–Kazakhstan flights?
This report does not mention specific routes. The Prime Minister's website report of September 5 says routes such as Almaty–Chongqing and Astana–Yining are expected to open by year-end; actual openings depend on announcements by airlines and the competent authorities.
Further reading
- More project news: Kazakhstan investment and projects news section
- Transport projects: Kazakhstan Ministry of Transport: progress on the Bakhty–Ayagoz railway
- Logistics infrastructure planning: Kazakhstan government: 21 new logistics centers to be built by 2030
- Logistics and transit in Kazakhstan: Kazakhstan customs and transit services
Sources
- Kazakhstan Ministry of Transport news (ministry section on memleket.kz, October 31 entry): https://memleket.kz/ru/agencies/transport/news
- Forbes Kazakhstan, October 31 (retelling the ministry press release): https://forbes.kz/articles/kak-moderniziruyut-aeroporty-v-kazahstane-do-2029-goda-e49ad8
- Trend, October 31 (retelling the ministry report): https://www.trend.az/casia/kazakhstan/4241531.html
- Kazinform (Kazakh version), October 29: https://kaz.inform.kz/news/eldeg-barlik-ushu-konu-zholaktari-men-terminaldar-zhanartiladi-0cd5d5b3/
- Kazakhstan Prime Minister website, September 5: https://primeminister.kz/ru/news/reviews/ispolnenie-poslaniya-prezidenta-transport-obespechivaet-61-vvp-rasshiryaet-mezhdunarodnye-koridory-i-ukreplyaet-tranzitnyy-potencial-31842
The cover image was generated by AI and is not a real photograph.